Fernando Alonso has admitted he needs "a strange combination of results" to take the title at this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix, but insists he is not feeling much pressure ahead the season finale.

Alonso is 13 points behind Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel in the drivers' championship but has not won a race since the German Grand Prix in July. Vettel, meanwhile, has to finish fourth or higher to secure the title after a run of four victories and two podiums at the last six races.

"In Formula One there is always pressure," Alonso said. "But definitely we have less than in some other occasions and probably less than if we were leading the championship. We have nothing really to lose.

"We are arriving in second position with five or six qualifyings dominated by Red Bull when we were [qualifying] around positions seventh and eighth. To recover 13 points sounds like a very difficult achievement and I think if everything goes normally we should finish second and if something happens we will win the championship. It's not in our hands so the pressure is much less."

Interlagos has a history of throwing up surprise results and Alonso said he would need one this weekend to put himself in title contention.

"This is Formula One and this is sport so anything can happen until the chequered flag," he added. "We will try to do the best race we can and try to cross the line on the podium, which will give us more than 13 points, and then we will see where Sebastian crosses the line. If we win we will be very happy, but we know to win we will need a strange combination of results. If we don't win we will congratulate him [Vettel] and we will try next year."